This grapple launcher is a mix of designs from an episode of Ranger Danger, John Austin’s Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction book series, and a version on Instructables.com from Mikeasaurus. These designs all use a rubber band to launch agrappling hook made from common office items. You can probably make this without even running out to the store!

There are many ways you can add on to this build. Glue some cool decorations on it. Make it bigger, or pocket-sized. Have some fun. Just be careful never to fire anything sharp from it, or point it at any people, pets or breakables (believe me, getting grounded is NOT worth it!)

Tools:

Steps - Make the Grapple Hook:

1. Remove the pen cap. If it has a clip, cut that off, then set aside the cap.

2. Next, straighten three paperclips. Bend all three paperclips in half. Place a strip of masking tape on the table sticky side up. Lay one folded paperclip along it and fold the tape to cover the paperclip. Continue wrapping the paperclip tightly with more masking tape. Repeat for the other two bent paperclips.

3. After taping, bend one paper clip at a 60 degree angle at each end, making a letter “C.” The two bends should be evenly spaced. Use this paperclip as an example, and bend the other two the same way.

4. Tape all three wrapped paperclips evenly around the top of the pen cap. Place the pen cap over the eraser end of a pencil, and then securely wrap with tape to attach. The grapple is now complete, set aside for now.

Grapple Launcher:

1. Align two pencils side by side and tape together. Use two pieces of tape, one at each end to make a secure connection.

2. Open the floss container and remove the floss spool and cutting nib from inside. Set aside the floss for later, and enjoy the minty aromas from inside the container.

3. Wrap the floss container shut using masking tape, then hot glue the container top flat against the unsharpened writing end of the taped pencils. This will be the handle for our grapple launcher. When the glue has dried, wrap masking tape to secure the floss container to the pencils.

4. Fold the two metal arms of a binder clip apart and tape one to the eraser end of the pencils. Make sure the opening of the binder clip faces away from the floss. Fold the binder clip back.

5. The grapple launcher should now have a floss container on one end, and a binder clip on the other, with both of them on different sides.

Grapple Tether Spindle:

1.Remove lid from pill bottle and set aside.

2. Straighten two paperclips, then bend them in half.

3. Lay both paperclips over your pill bottle lid in the center with the rounded end flush with the lid’s edge. Bend the paperclips again, this time at a 90 degree (right) angle where it overhangs.

4. Hot glue the paperclips to the pill bottle lid so the 90 degree bend points away from where the bottle would be, with an overhang of about 1/4 inches.

5. Tape the unglued end of the paperclips to the pencils near the binder clip, with the bottle facing away from the floss container. Do this close to the firing end of the Claw Blaster. Be sure to leave enough room for your hand between the floss container and the pill bottle.

6. The tether spindle is done for now, we’ll figure out how much floss to spin around the pill bottle after we set up the firingmechanism.

Firing Mechanism:

1. Open the binder clip and insert your rubber band, then stretch the rubber band back. Where it stops is where you want to place your clothespin.

2. Use hot glue to add a clothespin to the top of the taped pencils above the floss container. Have the clothespin spring sit around the end of the pencils.

Loading the Grapple & Determining Tether Length:

1. Open the binder clip and close it with the rubber band inside.

2. Stretch the rubber band to the clothespin. Open the clothespin and close it with the stretched rubber band inside the slot where a clothesline would go. WARNING! Now the blaster is loaded. Be careful to never point it at people (especially yourself), pets, or breakables.

3. The free metal arm on the binder clip is the guide for your grapple. Carefully insert your grapple through the metal arm of the binder clip, with the grapple facing out.

4. The pencil end of your grapple should rest right in front of the clothespin.

5.Check for breakables, people, and pets.

6. Holding the grapple launcher by the floss container handle, fire it by pressing down on the clothespin with your thumb, releasing the rubber band. Take note how far your grapple claw went.

7. Unwind enough floss to fit between where you were standing and where the grapple landed. Unwind a few extra feet and then cut floss to length.

8. Tape one end of the floss to the end of the grapple hook, and attach the other end to the pill bottle. To make a secure connection try taping the floss ends, folding the floss back, and then taping again. Tug the floss connections to test the strength.

Launching the Grapple:

1. Uncap the pill bottle to remove it from the floss container, then wind the floss around the pill bottle. Leave a little of the floss tether loose, then reconnect the pill bottle.

2. Stretch back your rubber band to the clothespin, and then carefully load in the grapple hook through the binder clip’s metal arm.

3. Make sure there are no people, pets, breakables, and even sisters or brothers in the way…then FIRE!!!!

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